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A UPS Airbus A300 cargo airplane on approach to Runway 18 at the Birmingham, Ala., airport crashed Wednesday morning at about 6 a.m. local time. Both crew members were killed, local authorities have reported. The aircraft hit the ground in an open field about a half-mile north of the runway, outside the airport boundary, broke into several pieces, and caught fire. Photos by The Associated Press show the front cabin section mostly intact, lying on top of a hill, as emergency vehicles contain the fires. The NTSB has sent a team to the site to begin their investigation. UPS said in a statement the flight had originated in Louisville, Ky. No homes or other structures were affected by the crash, and the airport has remained open.

The local weather at the time of the crash was rainy with low clouds, according to local news reports. "This incident is very unfortunate, and our thoughts and prayers are with those involved," said UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols in a statement, Wednesday morning. "We place the utmost value on the safety of our employees, our customers and the public. We will immediately engage with the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation, and we will work exhaustively on response efforts."

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